hat

Happy Christmas! Have a New Handknit Hat on Me!

Happy Christmas! Have a New Handknit Hat on Me!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED, AND THE WINNER IS RACHEL CRAIG. CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL RICEFIELD WILL BE IN TOUCH TO ARRANGE YOUR PRIZE. I’ve got a fabulous giveaway for you today. Ricefield Collective have kindly offered me one of their beautiful hand-knitted beannie hats to giveaway. Ricefield Collective are an ethical fashion company who hand-knit all(…)

The Enigmatic Ms Garbo

The Enigmatic Ms Garbo

Greta Garbo photographed in 1920 wearing a cloche and a velvet coat. She always looked impossibly glamorous, although I have to say I don’t think she would have looked quite as striking in *colour* as in black and white. I know that sounds strange, but if that lipstick were dark pink or bright red I(…)

Femme fatale: The stylish female criminals of Australia, 1920s

Femme fatale: The stylish female criminals of Australia, 1920s

I was talking about my fascination with vintage mug-shot photos a few days ago and since then I stumbled upon these amazing photos of 1920s women who were incarcerated at the State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay, NSW. What makes these photos so interesting is that they took a full length photo of each woman,(…)

Daring ladies on swinging deckchairs, 1905

Daring ladies on swinging deckchairs, 1905

I love so many things about this photo. I love the swinging deckchairs, those huge and cumbersome hats (on the beach!) and the fact that you seem to be able to see bits of these ladies which would have been frowned upon in those days (I can see their ankles, their wrists and their petticoats(…)

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo smouldering in a publicity photo from 1930, the year she moved from silent movies into talkies. Her first talking movie was advertised to the slogan ‘Garbo Talks!’ Ha ha! Give that publicity man a cigar… Her first talking line in a movie was “Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on the side, and don’t(…)

A very fancy 1920s cloche hat

A very fancy 1920s cloche hat

A very fancy 1920s cloche hat with amazing detailing and what looks like metallic inserts. Isn’t it fabulous?

Goldie Hawn trick or treating

Goldie Hawn trick or treating

I know, I know! It’s WAY to early to be posting Halloween-themed photos but I couldn’t resist. It’s a month until Halloween and I’m very excited (especially because of my Harry Potter party) so I thought I’d share this great photo of Goldie Hawn and Ruth Buzzi from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in, 1968. What are(…)

1930s cruise fashions

1930s cruise fashions

2 stylish ladies and a baby on board a boat sometime in the 1930s. I’d love to know what colour these dresses were – what do you think?

Joan Crawford, 1920s

Joan Crawford, 1920s

A striking photo of Joan Crawford in the 1920s. I love the way the silhouette and shadows really add to the composition of this picture. Isn’t it stunning? 

The controversial 1930s sport of Turtle riding

The controversial 1930s sport of Turtle riding

The strange and (thankfully) short-lived sport of turtle riding was popular for a while in Australia during the 1920s and 1930s. The general idea seemed to be that you would sit astride a turtle as it heaved its way across the sand and tried to stay ‘aboard’ once it was swimming in the sea.  Probably(…)

10 things you didn’t know about Audrey Hepburn

10 things you didn’t know about Audrey Hepburn

Did you know that  Audrey Hepburn wasn’t Capote’s first choice to play Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Hope you like these unusual facts about Hepburn. They are 10 things I didn’t know about Audrey Hepburn anyway!  If you’re the world’s biggest Audrey Hepburn superfan you may already know some of these – let me(…)

1930s race day fashions

1930s race day fashions

Two very stylish ladies in their 1930s race day fashions at Warwick Farm racecourse. I particuarly like the long striped jacket (or is it a cardigan?). What colour do you think it was?

Coco Chanel swathed in a big fur coat, 1920s

Coco Chanel swathed in a big fur coat, 1920s

Coco Chanel wrapped up in a big fur coat sometime in the 1920s. The photo looks like it might have been taken at a racecourse I think…? The gentleman accompanying her is Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster.

A cherry-print 1950s bikini (and a very strange hat)

A cherry-print 1950s bikini (and a very strange hat)

A cheerful cherry-print 1950s bikini modelled by Shirley Deas from Florida, 1955. I’m not sure what to make of that strange hat though? Have you ever seen a hat like that before?! Source and copyright: No known copyright restrictions

An elegant 1930s sailor suit

An elegant 1930s sailor suit

Isn’t this a lovely outfit? The 1930s were so stylish with the slim fitting long and mid-length dresses.  I love the sailor-styling and the bows on her shoes – so elegant! The lady is Miss Hera Roberts on board HNLMS Java, 10 October 1930. You can read more about her here.

Joan Crawford wearing a cloche hat, 1920s

Joan Crawford wearing a cloche hat, 1920s

A young Joan Crawford wearing a cloche hat and some very austere makeup from, 1927. I love her embroidered collar and the brooch pinned to her hat…

Joan Crawford looking veiled and edgy, 1930

Joan Crawford looking veiled and edgy, 1930

Isn’t this a stunning photo of Joan Crawford? It dates from the early 1930s and I love the dark lace-veiled hat and those wicked lips – isn’t she fabulous?